The SS Cedric: the ship ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in New York City with on 11 April, 1912. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá designated New York City as “the City of the Covenant.”

In 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, the Centre of the Covenant, made a 239 day journey across North America. The believers at the time wished to celebrate the day of His birth, which falls on the same day as the Declaration of the Báb (23 May, 1844). ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, instead, asked the believers to celebrate the Day of the Covenant , which is celebrated on 26 November.

‘“So firm and mighty is this Covenant,” He Who is its appointed Center has affirmed, “that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like.” “It is indubitably clear,” He, furthermore, has stated, “that the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant.” “Know thou,” He has written, “that the ‘Sure Handle’ mentioned from the foundation of the world in the Books, the Tablets and the Scriptures of old is naught else but the Covenant and the Testament.” And again: “The lamp of the Covenant is the light of the world, and the words traced by the Pen of the Most High a limitless ocean.” “The Lord, the All-Glorified,” He has moreover declared, “hath, beneath the shade of the Tree of Anísá (Tree of Life), made a new Covenant and established a great Testament… Hath such a Covenant been established in any previous Dispensation, age, period or century? Hath such a Testament, set down by the Pen of the Most High, ever been witnessed? No, by God!” And finally: “The power of the Covenant is as the heat of the sun which quickeneth and promoteth the development of all created things on earth. The light of the Covenant, in like manner, is the educator of the minds, the spirits, the hearts and souls of men.” To this same Covenant He has in His writings referred as the “Conclusive Testimony,” the “Universal Balance,” the “Magnet of God’s grace,” the “Upraised Standard,” the “Irrefutable Testament,” “the all-mighty Covenant, the like of which the sacred Dispensations of the past have never witnessed” and “one of the distinctive features of this most mighty cycle.”’

The Association welcomes submissions from individuals and groups of all ages and disciplines, especially youth and first time presenters, who wish to contribute to the discourse of their respective field through the lens of Bahá’í concepts related to civilization building.

The Bahá’í Society for Persian Arts and Letters warmly invites friends and supporters of Persian arts and culture to an exceptional programme featuring distinguished speakers for this year’s annual conference. Click on the links below to open a PDF version of the invitation in English or Persian: 21st Annual Conference of the Bahá’í Society for […]

Dearly loved friends, It is with great joy that we are now able to announce the full programme for the upcoming deepening course on Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh which will be facilitated by Dr Vahíd Ra’fatí at the Centre for Bahá’í Studies in Acuto, Italy, from January 2nd to January 7th 2018. If you are planning […]

Townshend International School A Baha’i-Inspired Residential School in the Heart of Europe Has the following needs for the 2018/19 year: Dormitory Parents An energetic and team-orientated couple to oversee the daily operation and proper functioning of the Dormitory, in order to provide a healthy, loving, sound environment for residential students. Benefits include a fully self-contained […]